Nehemiah 9:30-31 (NLT)
30 In your love, you were patient with them for many years. You sent your Spirit, who warned them through the prophets. But still they wouldn’t listen! So once again you allowed the peoples of the land to conquer them. 31 But in your great mercy, you did not destroy them completely or abandon them forever. What a gracious and merciful God you are!

How long have you been patient with something that’s wrong? What do you do about it when you run out of patience? Do you run or do you fix it? All the pent up energy and emotion come flooding out and boom, it’s fixed. That’s how we usually do it, right?

God works differently. Yes, he’ll get our attention. He’ll give us correction. He’ll move us to where we should be, but he lets us choose ultimately. That’s why we keep going back to our old ways. His patience is much greater than mine.

Ultimately, he came as Christ to offer us the final offer. Now, he’s just waiting to see how many of us will get with the program and how many will continue to believe the lies of the world. Eventually he’ll pull the trigger and the final reality will settle in on all of us one way or the other.

John 14:21 (NLT)
21 “Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

What a gracious and merciful God for sure. It’s pretty simple what needs to be done, say yes and accept.

Matthew 5:3 (NLT)
3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.”

Poor in spirit, humble. Not of this world. Looking for a better way forward, an eternal way forward. It’s there and soon we’ll celebrate its arrival.

John 14:27-29 (NLT)
27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. 28 Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am. 29 I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do happen, you will believe.”

Grace and mercy. For us. To accept or not.